William Heise
William Heise was an American film cinematographer and director, active in the 1890s. Along with William K.L. Dickson, Heise was one of the most prolific filmmakers of the nascent days of cinema. Together, both men worked on many of the early shorts produced by the Edison... Read full bio →
Ten Pickaninnies
Imagine ten pickaninnies turned loose and on mischief bent. Farmer catches one leaving but Nine. Nine Happy Snowballs on a Swing elate. One gets knocked out then there are Eight. Eight Black Cherubs, swimming at "Eleven," Mammy catches "Rastus," that leaves Seven. Seven Jolly Coons on a Tramp play tricks.
The Kiss
They get ready to kiss, begin to kiss, and kiss in a way that brings down the house every time.
Annabelle Serpentine Dance
In a long, diaphanous skirt, held out by her hands with arms extended, Broadway dancer Annabelle Moore performs. Her dance emphasizes the movement of the flowing cloth. She moves to her right and left across an unadorned stage. Many of the prints were distributed in hand-tinted color.
The Pickaninny Dance, from the 'Passing Show'
A scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.
Fire Rescue Scene
"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison Catalog
Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze
A man (Thomas Edison's assistant) takes a pinch of snuff and sneezes. This is one of the earliest Thomas Edison films and was the second motion picture to be copyrighted in the United States.
Dickson Experimental Sound Film
William K.L. Dickson plays the violin while two men dance. This is the oldest surviving sound film where sound is recorded on the phonograph.
Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph
James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.
Carmencita
Performing on what looks like a small wooden stage, wearing a dress with a hoop skirt and white high-heeled pumps, Carmencita does a dance with kicks and twirls, a smile always on her face.
Caicedo (with Pole)
"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)
Annabelle Butterfly Dance
Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
The Barbershop
Customer gets a lightning-fast shave.
Blacksmith Scene
Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
Newark Athlete
Experimental film fragment made with the Edison-Dickson-Heise experimental horizontal-feed kinetograph camera and viewer, using 3/4-inch wide film.